Combined tap and valve



ly 8, 1950 A. H. PICHLER 2,515,260

COMBINED TAP AND VALVE Filed Nov. 15, 1945 IN VEN T 0R; ALvnv H. Plan/.512.

A TTO ra/uEy.

Patented July 18, 1950 COBIBINED TAP AND VALVE Alvin H. Pichler, Miami, Fla.

Application November 15, 1945, Serial No. 628,954

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to acombination tap and valve, and has as an object the provision of a valve that can be clamped to a conduit at any location to provide a new outlet.

Another object is to provide a valve that is capable of making a new outlet in a closed conduit.

Still another object is to provide a valve that is capable of making a new outlet in a conduit While such conduit is filled with fluid under pressure.

A further object is to provide a valve that can be afiixed to a fluid-carrying conduit without interrupting the flow of fluid through said conduit.

Another object is to provide a valve that can be quickly and easily affixed to any section of a fluid-carrying conduit without disassembly and insertion of special fittings.

Further objects and advantages of this invention, as well as its construction, arrangement and operation, will be apparent from the following description and claims in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which, 7

Fig.1 is a side elevation of the valve of this invention, affixed to a fluid-carrying conduit.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, partly in elevation, taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the valve being shown in cutting relationship with the conduit to which it is afflxed, and

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section similar to Fig. 2, the valve being shown in final operative form.

The valve comprises a valve body l'l, provided with an internal threaded, portion l2, an outlet opening I 3, an internal integral seat I 4, and a semi-cylindrical flange portion l5. Seat I4 is located between the outlet opening I 3 and the flange portion I5. The flange portion 15 partially encloses a conduit l6, filled with a fluid H, which may be under pressure.

A semi-cylindrical flanged retainer l8 encloses conduit IS in conjunction with flange portion l5, and is securely afiixed to flange portion by bolts IS. A gasket 20 is provided adjacent the areas of flange portion 15 which bear upon conduit l6 and retainer l8.

Within body H and extending from the outer end thereof is a valve stem 2|. Valve stem 2| is provided with a worm 22 which is adapted to threadably engage threaded portion l2, a disc 23 which is adapted to seat upon the inner side of seat l4, and a cutter head 24. The outer end of stem 2! is adapted to be engaged by rotary power tools or by similar means such as wheel 25 adapted to impart axially rotative motion thereto.

The passage of stem 2| through the outer end of body H is proofed against fluid leakage by packing 26. Retaining cap 2! and collar 28 retain packing 25 against stop 29. Stop 29 terminates threaded portion [2 at its outer end, and limits the movement of worm 22 when in engagement therewith.

Sleeve 30 may enclose the protruding end of stem 2|, being affixed thereto by pin 3|, to prevent disengagement of worm 22 from threaded portion |2 during normal operation of the valve. Cap 32, provided with a drilled hole 33 therethrough, may close outlet opening |3 during the attachment of the valve to conduit l6 and the cutting of an outlet opening therein.

Cutter head 24 is provided with a plurality of cutters 34, projecting outwardly from cutter head 24 and positioned and adapted to cut a circular hole in the adjacent surface of conduit It as stem 2| is rotated. Cutters 34 may be of any type capable of cutting through the wallof conduit l3, short sections of hack-saw blade afflxed to the periphery of cutter head 24 being suitable except when the wallthickness of conduit I6 is relatively great. Cutters 34 are preferably flexible, adapted and arranged to contain and retain plug 35, cut from conduit 16 (Fi 3).

The Valve of this invention is utilized in the following manner. At any point in a fluid-carrying conduit at which a new outlet is desired, the valve is affixed by placing gasket 20 and flanged portion H of valve body it in contact with the conduit. Retainer I8 is then placed in contact with the conduit opposite flanged portion 5, and flanged portion 5 is caused to bear heavily upon gasket 20 and the conduit I 5 by tightening the bolts l9.

Valve stem 2| andworm 22 are then screwed out of engagement with threaded portion I2, whereby stem 2| is freed to move longitudinally within body H, and cutters 34 are brought into contact with conduit l6. Cutter head 24 is then causedto rotate by a handwheel 25, or by any suitable power means, and the cutters 34 to work upon conduit l6 until plug 35 has been out therefrom. The flexibility of the cutters 34, in conjunction with the curved exterior of conduit Hi on which they work cause cutters 34 to spread outwardly, so that when plug 35 has been completely cut it will be held within cutters 34 by frictional engagement, and thus will not be left as a loose impediment within conduit It or valve body II.

It is not necessary to interrupt the flow of fluid through conduit l6 during this operation. If fluid is flowing through conduit l5, outlet opening |3 can be closed by cap 32, to prevent loss of fluid therethrough. Hole 33 is in cap 32 to permit escape of a small stream of fluid, sufficient to carry away the chips resulting from the cutting of an outlet in conduit l6 (Fig. 2).

When plug 35 has been cut from conduit l3, valve stem 2| and worm 22 are moved longitudinally until worm 22 encounters threaded portion [2, and worm 22 can then be threaded into engagement with threaded portion l2 until disc 23 seats upon seat l4. Cap 32 is removed and a permanent pipe, flexible hose, or similar conduit, not shown, is connected to :outlet opening [3 if desired. Sleeve 39 is affixed to the ex tending end of stem 2|, as by pin 3I,--a-nd is so positioned as to prevent disengagemen-tof worm 22 with threaded portion I2 by contact with retaining cap 21. The valve is now ready-to operate as any ordinary valve, passage of fluid therethrough being controlled by wheel 2-5.

The valve of this invention permits the creation of anew outlet in a conduit without stopping the'fiow of fluid therethroug'h. Thenecessity of shutting down operations, with consequent'loss of time and fluid, is eliminated, as is the time necessary to cut the conduitpand insert fittings. Furthermore, the valve can be v.a'ffixed to conduits that are curved or coiled or that may be in difiicultly accessible locations. The, valve of this invention can be adapted to be affixed to conduits of any diameter, wall thickness or material.

It is to 'be understood that various -modifications and changes .can be made in this invention without departing .fromthe spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the appended .claims.

The invention describedhereinlmay be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of .America "for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

l. A combined tap and valvecomprising abody having an outlet opening therein, means for clamping one end of saidbody to the exterior of a conduit, a stem within said body and extending from the opposite .end thereof, saidstem being threadably engageable to said body, means onsaid stem positioned and adapted to open and close said outlet opening when said stem .is in threaded engagement with said body, and .cutting means aifixed to the inner end of said stem, said means being ,positionedandadapted to be held in spaced relationship from said .conduit when said stem is threadably engaged to said body and to be brought into cutting relationship with said conduit when the threads onthe stem are disengaged from said body.

2. A combined tap and valve comprising abody having an outlet opening therein, .means for clamping one end of said body to theexterior of a conduit, a stem within'said body and veX- tending from the opposite end thereof, said stem being threadably engageableto said body, a seat in said body between the outlet opening and the conduit, a disc on said stem positioned and adapted to be moved into and out of engage- "ment with said seat when said stem is in threaded engagement with said body, said disc when in engagement with said seat cutting off communication between the outlet opening and the conduit, and rotary cutting means affixed ,to theinner end of said stem, said cutting means being positioned and adapted to be held in spaced relationship from said conduit when said stem is threadably engaged to said body and to be brought into cutting relationship with said conduit when the threads on the stem are disengaged from said body.

3. A combined tapand valve comprising a body having an outlet opening therein, means for clamping one endofsaid body to the exterior of a conduit, a stem within said'body and extending from the opposite end thereof, said stem'being threadably engageable to said body, a seat in said body between the outlet opening and the conduit, a disc on said stem positioned and adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with said seat when said stem is in threaded engagement with said body, said disc when in engagement with said'seat'cutting off communication .between the outlet opening and the conduit, and "resilient rotary cutting means affixed to the. inner end ofsaid stem, said cutting means being positioned and adapted to be 'held in spaced relationship fromsaid conduit when said stem is threadably engaged tosaid body and to ;be brought intocuttingrelationship with said conduit when the threads in the stem are disengaged from said body, and being adapted to resilientlyretain asection' out from said conduit.

. ALVIN H. PICI-ILE-R.

*REFERENGES CIT-ED .T-he following references are of recordin the file of this patent;

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,515,260 July 18, 1950 ALVIN H. PICHLER It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 4, line 10, strike out the word rotary; and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same [1&1 conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. Signed and sealed this 5th day of December, A. D. 1950.

the above THOMAS F. MURPHY, 

